Long wait is OKC with Baylor's PJ3

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Perry Jones III (R) of the Baylor Bears greets NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) after he was selected number twenty-eight overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft at Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Photo: Elsa

NEWARK, N.J. - A year ago, Perry Jones III was considered a can't-miss NBA draft choice, a sure bet among the top five.

He fell a long way Thursday night, all the way to No. 28 overall. The good news is that the 6-11 Baylor sophomore forward will join an Oklahoma City Thunder team that just completed an appearance in the NBA Finals.

"It wouldn't matter to me if they were a contender or not. They are somebody I could see myself playing with," Jones said from the draft site in Newark, N.J.

Many observers projected Jones to be a lottery pick last year if he had gone to the NBA after his freshman year at Baylor. He averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 54.9 percent from the field in 2010-11.

Jones returned for his sophomore year because he felt he needed more seasoning

Part of his slide in the draft was attributed to reports that Jones has an issue with the meniscus in one of his knees, and he was asked if his decision to stay in college may have cost him.

"Maybe it did. Maybe it didn't," Jones said. "I just know I'm going to play hard for the team I'm playing for right now."

Jones was the first of three Baylor players selected. Forward Quincy Acy and guard/forward Quincy Miller went in the second round, with the 6-7 Acy going to Toronto at No. 37 and the 6-10 Miller heading to Denver at No. 38.

Texas A&M forward Khris Middleton went to Detroit with the 39th pick overall.